174 DK. R. ANGUS SMITH ON 



over a great tract of country without making use of it when 

 there, making some miles of piping in all probability without 

 using the water except at the extremity ; whereas, that long 

 line of sewerage is itself a large and constant, as well as con- 

 venient reservoir. The same cannot be said to an equal ex- 

 tent of the pipes. Moreover, by disinfecting the sewer itself, 

 we give time for the odour to be removed, taking away all 

 fear whatever from the otherwise to be dreaded reservoir of 

 impure water. 



If this method were adopted, it is easily seen that ^he 

 Irwell, the Medlock, the Irk, and the canals would at once 

 be clean, the filthy water would not be seen, but mere con- 

 densing water would of course go back to the river. The 

 expense of constructing a culvert, such as would convey the 

 impure water down the river, could not be great. I am not 

 an engineer, and cannot calculate it; but I believe, never- 

 theless, that it may be done cheaply and at a price which 

 would justify its immediate commencement. The estimates 

 for such things are generally very high, because people begin 

 with such extravagant ideas. We see that there are many miles 

 of sewage in this town, how many hundred I do not know, but 

 this would be the addition of six or ten only for the immediate 

 neighbourhood; and to begin with the Medlock, not much 

 more than two or three. There is no need of buying land, 

 there is land enough unbought, and the price of covering over 

 the Medlock with such powerful arches as they are now put- 

 ting upon it, would be immeasurably greater than this far 

 more useful sewer. I would put the sewer at the side of the 

 river, the bed is often not quite covered at one side ; if sunk 

 a little it would lie steadily, and do its work without giving 

 any one less room or causing any one to complain. 

 ' Although this plan would act even if confined to the town, 

 or even if confined to the Medlock, I prefer proposing it for 

 the whole district, because there, I think, its advantages will 

 be chiefly felt ; at the same time, it is a scheme which may 



